Why a group of veterans with PTSD allowed 60 Minutes cameras to record their gut-wrenching therapy sessions and air them on national television; then, Bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell objects to critics who say he fails to credit other people’s works; also, In an interview with Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes, author Malcolm Gladwell critiques his bestselling book, “The Tipping Point”; and, On the 50th anniversary of JFK’s assassination, former Secret Service agent Clint Hill remembers his emotional interview with Mike Wallace in 1975.

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With all of the various events in the Arab world, our recent partisan political debacles here in the USA, and a recent contact by another men’s group praising us for being a peer-led group, I thought it would be timely to talk about Leadership.

Male stereotypes are rich in leadership figures. Do we feel the burden of and expectation of leadership? Have you shouldered the of leadership of others in your life? Does it energize you, or is it a burden? Do you feel connected to those you lead, or alienated? Do you feel you have natural gifts in this area or have you figured out a strategies to overcome a lack of natural talent?

Do you wish you could acquire more leadership qualities? Do they elude your grasp? What prevents you from exerting yourself as a leader? How do you react to leadership? Do you prefer to guide your own life without interference from leadership figures? Do you have latent anarchistic tendencies? Or do you crave the clear direction provided by leadership?

Have you had leaders in your life that you’ve admired or tried to emulate? Or have you been the victim of unfair or irresponsible leadership, possibly still carrying a grudge? What do you want from leadership? What are the qualities of a perfect leader in your opinion?

Assertiveness and self-confidence is often seen as standard equipment for men, which is perhaps why it is especially hard for a man when he feels these qualities lacking. Often we are assertive in one aspect of our lives and not in another. Based upon the large number of resources available which address the problem of being unassertive, it would seem that this is not at all uncommon for either sex. Here is a sampling of those resources:

What’s behind these feelings? Each person will no doubt have their own contributing issues – speech problems since childhood, an overbearing or overly needy parent, being forced to adopt an unfamiliar language or culture, some sort of traumatic experience. If/when you find yourself lacking in the assertiveness you want/need, what do you think is behind the feeling? Is the solution mechanical or emotional? What do you need to put this solution into effect? How can our group help/support you in that goal?

Assertiveness and self-confidence is often seen as standard equipment for men, wich is perhaps why it is especially hard for a man when he feels these qualities lacking. Often we are assertive in one aspect of our lives and not in another. Based upon the large numebr of resources available which address the problem of being unassertive, it would seem that this is not at all uncommon for either sex. Here is a sampling of those resources:

What’s behind these feelings? Each person will no doubt have their own contributing issues – speech problems since childhood, an overbearing or overly needy parent, being forced to adopt an unfamiliar language or culture, some sort of traumatic experience. If/when you find yourself lacking in the assertiveness you want/need, what do you think is behind the feeling? Is the solution mechanical or emotional? What do you need to put this solution into effect? How can our group help/support you in that goal?

As always, looking forward to meeting.

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who we are

This web site shows the content of a men's group in the Berkeley, Oakland, Alameda area across the Bay from San Francisco. It also provides information for men interested in creating their own men's group. While this site is no longer actively used by a particular men's group, it is being left publicly available as a means of facilitating the meeting of men.